Basic structure and basic summary of the education system to make a quick summary of the American education system.
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| The education system in the US is characterized by federal governance and management. This means that the curriculum and admission procedures are not the same in each state. It’s the Department of Education in each state that sets the rules for its schools. Students in grades 1-12 are exempt from tuition. Public schools are mostly under the control of local school districts which have appointed school board to look into relevant matters. The major levels of education are elementary school (grades 1-6), middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). All students under the age of 16 must attend school. An academic year typically starts in August and ends in June. High school offers a broad range of courses. Foreign languages and physical education may be compulsory for students. Vocational courses are also offered by many high schools. A course is completed in one semester or two semesters. A pass in all the required courses is needed to go to graduate high school. The grade given for exams ranges from A (excellent) to F (failing). Any failing student can retake the exam/s. Students can choose to attend a two-year community college before joining a four year college. Community colleges offer low tuition, smaller classes and more individual attention. Students can transfer course credits to a four year program. Admission to college Applications for admissions are considered by the university admissions office. Several criteria are considered for acceptance into a course of study. The high school grade point average (GPA) results in exams, personal statements, essays and interviews play a big role towards a student’s eligibility. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the ACT (previously known as American College Testing) are taken in the last year of high school. Colleges give a minimal score for these two exams for prospective applicants. These tests do not question students on subject material. Graduate admissions are based on successful completion of a bachelor’s degree, undergraduate coursework, GPA and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results. College students Undergraduates pursue their degree while post-graduates have already obtained theirs. Undergrads are required to choose a major field of study plus accessory subjects or ‘minor’s. The American education system is liberal in that it offers a variety of courses for students. This flexibility allows a pre-med student to take ballet classes, and to actively pursue both fields. Post graduate courses as well as professional programs such as medicine are more specialized and more structured. In college, majority of courses tend to be of one semester duration. A credit translates into a number of study hours of a course. Generally, a program of study offers three credits or even more. Graduation depends on the number of credits earned. A final thesis is usually not part of completing a bachelor’s degree. |
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